It's been cold in Robert Menier's Newfoundland garage. After-dinner airplane fabrication has occasionally been out of the question. 

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Menier's retirement hobby is slightly more complex and expensive than most. Fabricating a light recreational airplane similar to a Piper Cub from plans is also risky, he admits. 
"Sometimes it's a little chilly down there," said Menier. "I have a heater in there now, so that may help it out."

Menier is not a pilot. Still, he is especially qualified, said Don Provost, the treasurer and newsletter editor for Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 501.

"Bob Menier is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of the parts that go into the airframe of a corporate jet," he said. "[He knows] what can and must be done safely to keep them in good repair."
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The claim is backed up by evidence, according to officials at the Federal Aviation Administration. Later this February, they will award the West Milford native with their Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.

At the 2025 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) honored James “Jim” Janaitis Sr. with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, recognizing a 50-year career of dedicated service in aviation maintenance and commitment to aviation safety.

Dave Schiavone of the FAA Safety Team gave the award to Janaitis, who spent 25 years as director of maintenance for IBM Flight Operations. Janaitis also served as chair of NBAA’s Maintenance Committee and co-founded the NBAA Connectivity Subcommittee.

In his career, spanning five decades, Janaitis earned credentials such as:

• Pilot’s license in 1971
• FAA Airframe & Powerplant certificate in 1974
• Inspection Authorization in 1977 

Janaitis continues to renew his Inspection Authorization to this day.

Before joining IBM, he worked for Canadair and Bombardier, rising from a technician to chief inspector over 14 years. Janaitis retired in 2021 but consults for business aviation companies.

According to the FAA, the award celebrates “exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism and steadfast commitment” to aviation maintenance.

In 1903, Charles Taylor designed and built the engine for the Wright brothers’ first successful flight. His namesake award honors individuals with at least 50 years of dedicated service in aviation maintenance.

“Jim embodies the very best of our industry—a passion for aviation maintenance, a commitment to innovation, and a deep sense of responsibility to safety,” said Stewart D’Leon, NBAA’s senior director for environmental & technical operations.

D’Leon continued, “His impact is evident not only in the aircraft he has maintained, but in the lives and careers of those he has mentored. We are proud to celebrate Jim’s remarkable contributions and congratulate him on receiving the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.”

When Janaitis is not working, he maintains his Cessna 182, travels with his wife, Terry, and spends time with his three sons and six grandchildren.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. The Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. Mr. Taylor served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mechanic or repairman certificate.
• Have 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience.
  • Up to 20 years of the required 50 years may be U.S. military experience; or worked as an uncertified person in a U.S. aviation maintenance facility that maintained U.S. registered aircraft, either domestic or overseas; or worked as an uncertified person in the aircraft manufacturing industry in the United States, producing U.S. type-certificated or U.S. military aircraft.
  • The 50 years may be computed consecutively or non-consecutively.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have NOT had any airman certificate revoked. Revocation of any airman certificate will disqualify a nominee for this award.

To Apply
Follow application procedures located in the current Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award Information Guide.

Contact your local FSDO for more information.

If you have additional questions, or if you are a Master Mechanic Award recipient and your name is not on this list, please contact your local FAASTeam Program Manager.
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Click here to view the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award Roll of Honor.

On September 23rd, 2025, Darrell Hughes, from the DFW FAA Safety Team, presented Joseph "Ski" Suszczynski with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.

Ski was a graduate of Aviation High School, Class of 1973 and Extended 12th, which was completed  in January 1974.

From Ski, "I could not find an aviation job so I enlisted in the USAF as a jet engine mechanic. I spent 20 years working on T56 engines which were used on C-130 Hercules aircraft in different roles, engine shop, flight line, test cell, engine records, and was a USAF Master Instructor, teaching T56 engines, 54H60-91 Propellers and GTC85-71A gas turbine engines. During that time also taught general, airframe and powerplant courses for the University of Embry Riddle. After my Air Force career, I went to work for Raytheon Aerospace performing MRO on T56 engines for 4 years. Then joined StandardAero where I worked T56 engines for 23 years then switched to Rolls Royce Spey and Tay engines. My current role is a Training Manager."

The award was presented at StandardAero DFW Center of Excellence, which is a FAA Part 145 Jet Engine MRO facility, in front of  staff, Ski's family and friends.